City Council

City of Groveport 655 Blacklick St. Groveport, OH 43125 614.830.2052 www.groveport.org Meeting Minutes Monday, May 9, 2016 6:30 PM Council Chambers City Council Mayor Lance Westcamp Council Members - Ed Rarey, Jean Ann Hilbert, Ed Dildine, Shawn Cleary, Becky Hutson & Scott Lockett City Council Meeting Minutes May 9, 2016 I. Call to Order by Mayor Westcamp at 6:30 p.m. Staff Present: Marsha Hall - Administrator, Kevin Shannon - Law Director, Jeff Green - Director of Finance, Tom Walker - Director of Golf, Ralph Portier - Chief of Police Guests Present: The Guest Book is on file with the Clerk of Council. II. Moment of Silence The Mayor asked everyone to join him in a moment of silence. III. Pledge of Allegiance Chief Portier led the Pledge of Allegiance. IV. Roll Call Present: 6 - Shawn M. Cleary, Edward Dildine, Jean Ann Hilbert, Becky Hutson, Scott Lockett, and Ed Rarey V. Approval of Minutes - April 25, 2016 Approved as submitted. #103-2016 City Council Meeting Minutes 4-25-16 Attachments: City Council Meeting Minutes 4-25-16.pdf National Police Week Proclamation Mayor Lance Westcamp read the National Police Week Proclamation and presented the proclamation to Captain Kurt Blevins. Chief Ralph Portier added 2015 was a tough year but 2016 has started off even worse. There have already been 16 peace officers killed by gunfire this year. Two of those killed were Ohio peace officers; Officer Thomas Cottrell, Danville Police Department and Officer Steven M. Smith, Columbus Police Department. The average age of an officer being killed in the line of duty is 37 years old with less than 11 years of service, which is pretty close to what the Groveport Police Department has now. Last year the department had a shooting in the Groveport area and came very close to losing one of our own officers. The Chief stated the department is keenly aware of when officer shootings happen. He thanked the Mayor, Council and City of Groveport Page 1 City Council Meeting Minutes May 9, 2016 Administration for their financial support in the police department's budget that allows for all the necessary training and the hiring of new officers. Without this support, Groveport would not have one of the finest police forces in the State of Ohio. Chief Portier sees a lot of agencies throughout Ohio when teaching classes across the state and none of them stack up to the City of Groveport's police force. #104-2016 2016 National Police Week Proclamation Attachments: 2016 National Police Week Proclamation.pdf VI. Business of Guests a. 4th of July Committee The 4th of July Committee had Seth Whitehill from TurnPoint Church present a short film of the 2015 4th of July celebration. Mayor Westcamp acknowledged the three members of TurnPoint Church present at tonight's meeting; Doug Grubb, Seth Whitehill and Pastor Joseph Arata II. Committee Member Bob Garvin commented this is the sixth year for this committee to collaborate on the 4th of July celebration. Mr. Garvin added the Groveport City Council, Administration, Administrator Marsha Hall and all the Groveport staff have been spectacular to work with organizing this event. The partnership with TurnPoint Church has been great for the committee. Seth Whitehill designed the postcards that were sent to residents and all the posters displayed around town. The free kids’ games lined up for the 4th will be paid for by TurnPoint. Another partnership has the Groveport-Madison School District handling all the logistics of the parade. Madison Township sent out an event calendar to the unincorporated areas of the township with the Groveport 4th of July Celebration on the first page. The committee's main focus this year is to obtain more participation in the parade. Administration has sent letters to local businesses to invite them to participate in the parade and inform them of sponsorship opportunities. Mr. Garvin thanked the Mayor, Council, and Administration for all their support. Council Member Dildine mentioned Groveport Madison Schools are trying to get alumni classes together to decorate floats for the parade. Seth Whitehill is to get a copy of the DVD for the City's website to Marsha Hall. b. Ohio House Representative Heather Bishoff Ohio House Representative Heather Bishoff addressed Council on the matter of medical marijuana. Last November Issue 2 and Issue 3 were on the ballot as full blown legalized marijuana but Ohio voters turned it down. With Ohio voters turning it down, the group City of Groveport Page 2 City Council Meeting Minutes May 9, 2016 supporting the legislation realized that there needed to be some guidelines put into place. The group is determined to take the initiative to the ballot with some changes. They are going to make it legalized marijuana as well. So, come this November, in addition to the legislature coming up with a law or a bill to vote on, voters will also vote on a legalization of medical marijuana measure. The Legislature has come up with their own version, but Rep. Bishoff suggests if someone leans on the side of wanting to be able to do more, the ballot initiative may be the way for them to go. If someone is more conservative regarding the approach of legalizing marijuana in the State of Ohio, they may consider voting no on the issue. The key provisions of the medical marijuana bill being voted on Tuesday are: it creates a commission to oversee the cultivators, the retail dispensaries, independent laboratories who are required to test the marijuana and the processors of medical marijuana. In Ohio only physicians can recommend medical marijuana under the proposed bill; 90 day recommendations can be renewed for a year after the initial 90 day follow-up and there is a list of allowable conditions. Cancer, Tourette's syndrome, epilepsy, any seizure disorder, Parkinson's disease, traumatic brain injury, glaucoma, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, sickle cell anemia, spinal cord disease or injury, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, PTSD, HIV, AIDS, hepatitis C and pain that is chronic, severe, or intractable. There is some flexibility to add additional conditions to the list in the future without necessarily changing law. The forms of medical marijuana explicitly allowed are: oils, tinctures, plant material, edibles, and patches. Smoking is not allowed but vapor is allowed. Townships and municipalities have the ability to prohibit, zone or limit the number of dispensaries in their community. Although Ms. Bishoff hasn't seen the language added yet, there is supposed to be a measure that makes it illegal to manufacture any type of product that looks like candy. In regards to employers, the laws on the books now remain the same. Employers have the same rights as they did before regarding an employee coming to work high. Around 1986, City of Columbus acquired a very large, lucrative piece of property. The surrounding suburban school districts took notice and were concerned that if Columbus pulled that property they could pull all of the Columbus property within their district area as quickly as overnight. This essentially caused turf wars. Win-Win is a collaboration of all 16 Central Ohio school districts solving the notion that Columbus will come in overnight and take property. This collaboration is beneficial for many reasons. Ms. Bishoff would suggest the most beneficial reason is continuity for our families. Any homeowner can imagine moving into a new home to have your children in a specific school district and later read in the newspaper your children will be attending Columbus schools instead. With thirty City of Groveport Page 3 City Council Meeting Minutes May 9, 2016 years into Win-Win, every six years this agreement renews. There have been five renewals, 1992 represented a modification. There were 10 suburban school districts that initially entered into the Win-Win Agreement. In 1998 Reynoldsburg removed themselves from the collaboration. May 31, 2016 represents the sixth renewal. There are nine school districts that remain, Groveport-Madison and three other school districts in District 20. Some people are concerned with what has essentially become a grab for valuation. If you look at the Groveport-Madison district map you will see a patchwork of Groveport-Madison and Columbus schools neighborhoods. Columbus can annex property and they have been focusing on commercial property or property that can be developed into commercial property. Commercial property generates tax revenue. The more the land is developed, the more revenue created. If you take the commercial property out of a suburban school district, that school district loses tax revenue that supports all the families in the district. Over the last thirty years Groveport-Madison has lost $107 million in valuation (it is more like $120 million in property valuation) to the tune of $36 million a year in annual taxes. Groveport-Madison is doing its best to get some modernization to this agreement. If you look at the last 10 years, the US Department of Labor inflation has been almost 3%. If you look at Groveport-Madison the inflation has been 2.15%. The high school project is $2 million under budget and ahead of schedule. The district has done an amazing job with a small pot of money, educating this community's children, managing the finances and keeping our children safe. All with the resources they have available. House Representative Bishoff and another representative dropped a bill today, giving Groveport-Madison School District another tool. The bill does not kill Win-Win, it gives Groveport-Madison and the other 8 school districts the ability to opt out of Win-Win and freeze or make permanent their district boundaries. There would be no more annexation. The City of Columbus and its schools have begun to actively negotiate with suburban school systems that perceive that there is a lack in parity in the Win-Win agreement. The bill has been dropped but it has a ways to go. Groveport-Madison School District is proposing a resolution stating the direction they would like to go. The bill states if a district passes a resolution stating they do not want to be a part of Win-Win, then that school district's property lines are frozen. Council Member Dildine commented with Columbus negotiating, essentially it is not an all or nothing deal. A district could stay in the Win-Win and possibly negotiate a better deal. If no suburban school district does anything, the Win-Win will renew for another six years on May 31, 2016. The open discussion period is from April 1 to May 31, 2016. Council Member Hilbert raised the matter that in 1997 the Ohio Supreme Court declared it was illegal / unconstitutional to support schools with property taxes, yet nothing has changed. Rep. Bishoff City of Groveport Page 4 City Council Meeting Minutes May 9, 2016 stated it has been declared unconstitutional four times. Ms. Bishoff has gone all the way up to the Governor's office to volunteer to be put on the top of the list to find solutions on this issue. In January 2014 there was a movement for change that ended up taking $3 billion of state funding away from Ohio municipalities. The state funding Ohio passed in 1971 under a bipartisan legislature, reads income taxes will be redistributed among all the communities in the State of Ohio. When the $3 billion went out, property taxes, local income taxes and sales taxes increased. If one looks at the ads and the commentary, it shows that taxes were lower at that time. Ms. Bishoff's answer to school funding was to tie it to a percentage of the General Revenue Fund of the Department of Education. If there is an economic downturn and revenues are down and people aren't paying taxes, every school district in Ohio gets hurt. If revenues are up with economic development going in the right direction, everyone in Ohio benefits with their pro-rata share. This suggestion was not received well. Representative Bishoff will take any and all suggestions up to the Governor's office. Bixby Road update: the intersection of US 33 and Bixby Road will be closed. Citizens in Madison Township are frustrated with the lack of communications / information on the changes to take place. Representative Bishoff will look into bringing the Ohio Department of Transportation out to hold an informational town meeting with Groveport and Madison Township. c. Ann Raver - Groveport Madison Local School District Win-Win Ann Raver, 4919 Founders Drive, addressed Council on the matter of the Groveport Madison Local School District Win-Win agreement. Ms. Raver expressed concerns that the Groveport Madison Local School District has been negotiating the Win-Win agreement for a long time. Ms. Raver assumed the City of Groveport has not been a part of the negotiation process at all. Council Member Dildine affirmed the City has nothing in the negotiations. Administrator Marsha Hall stated the City has been in communication with the School District Administration. The City of Groveport Administration has met with the School District Superintendent and Treasurer. Groveport was first contacted by the School District back in February 2016; Ms. Hall last made contact last Thursday. Ms. Raver commented the issue is with the unincorporated areas, especially toward Rickenbacker, that could be annexed by the City of Columbus. Ms. Hall stated the general public needs to know that the City of Groveport has a 50 year sewer agreement with the City of Columbus in the Rickenbacker area. Columbus has a lot of agreements with most of the surrounding suburban communities. Groveport's sewer agreement in that area (called Area C) states that Groveport has to have Columbus' permission before annexing any City of Groveport Page 5 City Council Meeting Minutes May 9, 2016 tract(s) of land. In the unincorporated areas, people have to petition the City of Groveport to be annexed into Groveport. Then Groveport needs to provide a service resolution: a service resolution states that Groveport is able to serve them with utilities, police protection, etc. Groveport cannot provide utilities without Columbus' approval to do so. Administration has been working on this issue, the Win-Win renewal could be considered bad timing. Groveport's hands are tied in regards to the area because Groveport has to have Columbus' permission to be able to provide utilities. Groveport, the City of Columbus and Groveport-Madison School District continue to communicate about the subject. The School District understands the situation and is aware of the challenges facing the City of Groveport. Finance Director Jeff Green interjected, regardless of how the Win-Win agreement goes with the Groveport-Madison School District, the City of Groveport will be impacted. The hope is that the impact will be a positive one. He reiterated the timing is very precarious. VII. Ordinances and Resolutions A. 3rd Readings None B. 2nd Readings ORD. 16-022 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING PART NINE - STREETS, UTILITIES AND PUBLIC SERVICES CODE, CHAPTER 925 - SEWER RATES, EXTENSIONS AND FEES OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF GROVEPORT Sponsors: Hilbert Attachments: ORD. 16-022 Sewer Regulations Exhibit A.pdf Clerk of Council Ross read by title Ordinance No. 16-022. ORD. 16-023 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING PART NINE - STREETS, UTILITIES AND PUBLIC SERVICES CODE, CHAPTER 933 - WATER RATES, EXTENSIONS AND FEES OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF GROVEPORT Sponsors: Lockett Attachments: ORD. 16-023 Water Regulations Rates Etc Exhibit A.pdf City of Groveport Page 6 City Council Meeting Minutes May 9, 2016 Clerk of Council Ross read by title Ordinance No. 16-023. #102-2016 Memo on Changes to Water & Sewer Regs Attachments: Memo on Changes to Water & Sewer Regs.pdf ORD. 16-024 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING PART NINE - STREETS, UTILITIES AND PUBLIC SERVICES CODE, TITLE FIVE - OTHER PUBLIC SERVICES, CHAPTER 941 PARKS, OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF GROVEPORT Sponsors: Hutson Attachments: ORD. 16-024 Park Rules 941.02 & 941.03 Exhibit A.pdf Council Member Hutson questioned that under C.12. Any aircraft (including model-type)...if drones should be added to the list of named aircraft. Law Director Shannon will look into the matter, and if needed, the Ordinance can be amended at its third reading. Clerk of Council Ross read by title Ordinance No. 16-024. ORD. 16-025 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF GROVEPORT - PART THREE - TRAFFIC CODE, TITLE SEVEN, CHAPTER 351, SECTION 351.15, OPERATION AND PARKING IN PARKS Sponsors: Dildine Attachments: ORD. 16-025 351.15 Operation & Parking in Parks Exhibit A.pdf Clerk of Council Ross read by title Ordinance No. 16-025. C. 1st Readings ORD. 16-026 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE ADMINISTRATOR TO INSTALL A TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICE/SIGN AT THE INTERSECTION OF TALLMAN STREET AND ROHR ROAD IN THE CITY OF GROVEPORT, AND THE DECLARATION OF AN EMERGENCY Sponsors: Cleary Law Director Shannon requested Council to consider making a City of Groveport Page 7 City Council Meeting Minutes May 9, 2016 motion to suspend the rules as to the three readings and the effective date. This signage Administration is seeking to post will help eliminate the ongoing truck issues the City has had at that intersection. For that reason staff is asking for emergency passage. Clerk of Council Ross read by title Ordinance No. 16-026. A motion was made by Council Member Hilbert, seconded by Council Member Hutson, to suspend the rules as to the three readings and the effective date. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6 - Cleary, Dildine, Hilbert, Hutson, Lockett and Rarey The signage will allow for local deliveries but will also enable the City to enforce trucks missing the NorthPoint development and turning on Tallman Street. The sign will be bilingual. A motion was made by Council Member Cleary, seconded by Council Member Dildine, to adopt as emergency legislation. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6 - Cleary, Dildine, Hilbert, Hutson, Lockett and Rarey ORD. 16-027 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING PART SEVEN - BUSINESS REGULATION CODE, CHAPTER 727 - PEDDLERS OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF GROVEPORT Sponsors: Hutson Attachments: ORD. 16-027 -Amend Chapter 727 Peddlers Exhibit A.pdf Clerk of Council Ross read by title Ordinance No. 16-027. This Ordinance was referred to the Committee of the Whole. VIII. Reports A. Mayor - Lance Westcamp Mayor Lance Westcamp acknowledged Director of Golf Tom Walker, who was present to answer anyone's questions. Mr. Walker will not be available for next week's Committee of the Whole meeting on May 16, 2016 but will submit a report. The hillside project is progressing but not as quickly as Mr. Walker had hoped. No one was there working today. Mr. Walker let the engineer know how he felt about the project's progression and the importance of the project to the City. The soil stabilization testing for the new parking lot will be done this Tuesday. When the testing of the retaining wall is done, concrete City of Groveport Page 8 City Council Meeting Minutes May 9, 2016 work will begin. Patron complaints have been about what was expected. The Paddock Pub had 250 to 300 patrons for the Mother's Day Brunch. Council Member Hilbert and Council Member Rarey both praised and thanked Tom Walker for the outstanding brunch and his running of the golf course. Council Member Cleary commented the Paddock Pub has had people waiting for a table/seat. Mr. Walker stated they've had that happen a few nights and there have been discussions on using the banquet room on a nightly basis if needed. If the trend continues once the hillside and the patio areas open up, the banquet room certainly may become an option. Mayor Lance Westcamp reported he attended two functions Thursday for the National Day of Prayer. The Mayor spoke at Motts Military Museum at noon and he had the honor of speaking at TurnPoint Church. Groveport was well represented and he enjoyed speaking at the events. On Friday, Mayor Westcamp and all of Council, with the exception of Mr. Rarey, attended the fundraiser for Motts Military Museum held at the Columbus Zoo. He ended on Saturday with a Hall of Honor Ceremony at the Recreation Center for Kathy Frank. The event was well attended. Mayor Westcamp was very proud of the decision, the person was well deserving. It had been a busy week. On Saturday, May 14th, the Mayor will be reading a proclamation in honor of Le'Veon Bell at 1:45 p.m. at the football field at Groveport-Madison Middle School Central following the Groveport football camp. Mayor Westcamp announced the Grand Marshall for the 2016 4th of July Parade will be former Council Member Donna Drury. B. Administrator - Marsha Hall Administrator Marsha Hall reported she and Public Works Superintendent Dennis Moore had a conference call regarding mosquito control and the Zika virus with the County. Franklin County Public Health is ratcheting up with additional staff and money for larviciding and providing services. FCPH will continue to work with Groveport to spray and larvicide, especially for City events, at no additional cost to the City's contract. They are concentrating this year on rain barrels. With the increased use of rain barrels to save water comes the unfortunate happenstance of attracting more mosquitoes. The FCPH has a flyer to hand out explaining how to maintain rain barrels to help keep the mosquitoes away. Additional information will be available on the City's website with a link to the Franklin County Public Health Department and the mosquito program. Ms. Hall requested Council to consider going into executive session tonight to discuss economic development issues. City of Groveport Page 9 City Council Meeting Minutes May 9, 2016 #105-2016 Adm Report to Council - May 9. Attachments: Adm Report to Council - May 9.pdf C. Chief of Police - Ralph Portier Nothing further to report. D. Director of Finance - Jeff Green Nothing further to report. E. Director of Law - Kevin Shannon Nothing further to report. F. Council Members - Ed Rarey, Jean Ann Hilbert, Ed Dildine, Shawn Cleary, Becky Hutson and Scott Lockett Council Member Cleary reported Kasey Petty set a school record in golf. Ms. Petty shot a 67 and her team qualified to go to the finals. In regards to Groveport-Madison softball, Jessie Rock set the record for most consecutive game home runs. Groveport-Madison won tonight against Watterson 10 to 0. Scott Clinger received an award from the Ohio Crime Prevention Association. Mr. Cleary reminisced about a youngster he had in his living room 8 years ago. The young man had played baseball for him. He had asked Mr. Cleary to come to his graduation on a Friday night. On Saturday afternoon, Mr. Cleary read the young man had died in a traffic crash. He asked Chief Portier with graduation coming soon that we spare nothing in keeping the City's streets safe with heavy patrolling. Council Member Dildine commented the City of Groveport was well represented at the Friday night fundraiser for Motts Military Museum. Mr. Dildine acknowledged Warren Motts as a good advocator of the City of Groveport. No matter where Mr. Motts was, or who he was with, he always put Groveport in the focus of his conversations. The City of Groveport should take pride in their part of what Mr. Motts wants to do and keep here in Groveport. The museum will be a destination piece and will make sure future generations don't forget what took place on US soil. Mr. Dildine would like to push to see the building done. G. Clerk of Council - Ruthanne Sargus Ross Nothing to report. City of Groveport Page 10 City Council Meeting Minutes May 9, 2016 H. Standing Committees None. IX. Other Business Executive Session Law Director Shannon requested Council to consider making a motion to go into Executive Session pursuant to Ohio Revised Code Section 121.22(G) to discuss economic development matters, to include all Members of Council, the Mayor, the Administrator, the Finance Director and himself. A motion was made by Council Member Cleary, seconded by Council Member Hilbert, to go into Executive Session at 7:39 p.m. pursuant to Ohio Revised Code Section 121.22(G) to discuss economic development matters, to include all Members of Council, the Mayor, the Law Director, the Administrator, and the Finance Director. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6 - Cleary, Dildine, Hilbert, Hutson, Lockett and Rarey A motion was made by Council Member Rarey, seconded by Council Member Cleary, to come out of Executive Session at 8:22 p.m. with no action taken. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6 - Cleary, Dildine, Hilbert, Hutson, Lockett and Rarey A motion was made by Council Member Rarey, seconded by Council Member Cleary, to adjourn. Mayor Westcamp did not ask for a vote and Council Member Cleary had something he wanted to add. Law Director Kevin Shannon advised if someone wants to withdraw their second at this time, the adjournment motion goes off the table. Mr. Shannon advised the meeting is not in adjournment posture yet, and the Mayor could ask if there was anything else. Mayor Westcamp asked if there was any other business. Council Member Cleary asked for clarification on the matter of US 33. City of Groveport Page 11 City Council Meeting Minutes May 9, 2016 Is the information Rep. Bishoff talked about the same information Administration had already sent out to the public? Administrator Hall confirmed the information was regarding US 33 not Bixby Road. X. Adjournment Council Member Cleary made a motion, seconded by Council Member Dildine to adjourn at 8:24 p.m. All in favor stated AYE, None Opposed. Motion passed. __________________________________________ Lance Westcamp, Mayor __________________________________________ Ruthanne Sargus Ross, Clerk of Council PLEASE NOTE: THESE MINUTES ARE NOT VERBATIM. A RECORDING OF THE MEETING IS AVAILABLE IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE DURING REGULAR BUSINESS HOURS. City of Groveport Page 12